The NSPCC Sport podcast

NSPCC Sport

Welcome to our podcast, where we share safeguarding best practice, lived experience and discuss all things sport and physical activity. Children’s sport should be exciting, fulfilling and fun. But most of all, it should be safe. We believe in building a caring, inclusive culture where children and young people can thrive and enjoy themselves by discovering all kinds of sports and physical activities – whatever their level or ability. We are part of the NSPCC, are funded by the UK sport councils and have been leading the way in safeguarding in sport for over 25 years.    Together, we can make sure that children and young people are safe and can thrive in sport. (Many of our podcasts were recorded under the name the Child Protection in Sport Unit. We became NSPCC Sport in June 2026.) #SafeInSport #NSPCCSport

Episodes

  1. 07/15/2025

    Safeguarding in community sport and physical activity

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) Moving from policies to people  Dive into our latest podcast where we explore the vital role of safeguarding in community sports and physical activities. The discussion features three guests: Anita Stewart, Sport Welfare Officer from Active Norfolk, John Downes, Designated Safeguard Lead from StreetGames, and Ross Podyma, Strategic Director from Sporting Communities. They share insights on the challenges and solutions in safeguarding within community sports.  Key points include:  volunteer confidence: emphasising the need for training and support to make sure volunteers are confident in safeguarding practices  community engagement: highlighting the importance of local partnerships and community involvement in creating safe environments  cultural shift: advocating for a shift from compliance-based safeguarding to a more integrated, welfare-focused approach that puts children first  youth involvement: stressing the importance of involving young people in decision-making and creating environments where they feel safe and valued  Featuring   Liza Ware – Host, NSPCC Sport Senior Safeguarding Consultant   Anita Stewart – Sport Welfare Officer, Active Norfolk  John Downes – Designated Safeguarding Lead, StreetGames  Ross Podyma – Strategic Director, Sporting Communities  Anita Stewart: "I went into an organisation and did a forum with some young people from a disability group in Norfolk, and we were asking them what made them feel safe and what safeguarding meant to them. A young person said, 'when I think of safeguarding, I think of folders, risk assessments and bits of paper.' And then we asked them what makes them feel safe? She said 'people make me feel safe'. And from that we came up with 'Let's move safeguarding from policies to people'."

  2. 05/13/2025

    Online Safety Part 5: How to keep children and young people safe

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) Louisa Street—youth worker, PhD candidate, and member of the HeadStart Kernow Digital Resilience Project—sits down with NSPCC Sport Senior Digital Content Editor Sam to answer key questions about online safety in sport. We cover: how top athletes can promote themselves on social media without compromising safety  how sports clubs can use photos responsibly while keeping participants protected  how clubs can take a harm reduction approach to instant messaging apps  how to respond to online bullying disclosures  We also explore setting boundaries across digital platforms, informed consent, photo selection and the importance of working alongside parents and carers to create safe spaces for young athletes.  Most importantly, we highlight why listening to young people and putting them at the centre of decision-making is key to safeguarding in sport.  Tune in now and make online safety a priority in your club or organisation!  💬Featuring:  Samantha Lawrence – Host, NSPCC Sport Senior Digital Content Editor   Louisa Street – Youth worker, a PhD candidate and a member of the HeadStart Kernow Digital Resilience Project in Cornwall  Listen to the full Online Safety series here.  💻Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport.

  3. 02/06/2025

    Online Safety Part 4 - Building Resilience and Reducing Harm

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) In this episode, they explore how adults can support children and young people in reducing harm and building digital resilience in the online world.  Samantha and Louisa discuss:    why prohibition doesn’t work  the harm reduction principle and its application to online safety  concerns young people have about the online world  how adults can respond if a child or young person is worried about their online safety  💬Featuring:  Samantha Lawrence – Host, NSPCC Sport Senior Digital Content Editor  Louisa Street – Youth Worker and PHD Candidate and member of the Headstart Kernow Digital Resilience Project in Cornwall.  Listen to the full Online Safety series.Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport.

  4. 02/05/2025

    Online Safety Part 3 - Cyberbullying in Sport

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) Bullying has been raised as a big concern for children, particularly in the online space, so it is vital that we understand how to handle it and what actions we need to take to keep children and young people safe.You can't get away from social media in a sport and setting, but we should never forget our safeguards and responsibilities. As safeguarders, we must take time to carefully think through the different types of risks that children and young people may be exposed to in a virtual sport setting.This podcast was originally recorded in May 2020 but has been repurposed for use in November 2024. Joined by host Helen and NSPCC Safety Officer Laura, we take a look at:  examples of how to deal with cyberbullying in your club  why cyberbullying in sport may be different  what young people should consider before posting messages online  what young people should do if they receive abusive content  Always remember; if you're concerned or you're upset. Speak to someone that you know. Speak to a family member. Speak to somebody that you trust in a professional environment and seek that help. Featuring: Helen Westerman – Host, NSPCC  Liza Ware – NSPCC Sport Senior Consultant Laura Randall – NSPCC Online Safety Strategy Team Listen to our previous episodes: Part 1 - Online Safety for the Sport and Activity Sector - Social Media and Online Platforms Part 2 - Online Safety for the Sport and Activity Sector - Sharing Images Online Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport.

  5. 01/02/2025

    Online Safety Part 2 - Sharing Images Online

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) In this episode we shift the focus to the topic of sharing of images online. It's fantastic that we have so much technology that allows children, young people, professionals and athletes to communicate. But it's crucial that we are making sure that everyone is secure and safe in how they do this. We look into advice for clubs, organisations, activity providers and parents to help them talk with young people about sharing images and how to get young people to understand the consequences that can be a part of this. This podcast was originally recorded in May 2020 but has been repurposed for use in November 2024. Joined by Helen and Laura from the NSPCC Online Safety Team, our NSPCC Sport Senior Consultant Liza Ware cover: consequences of sharing indecent images online challenges faced by professional young athletes on social media sharing, tagging and promotion of children in sport by sports clubs mixed aged chat groups and forums 💬 Featuring: Helen Westerman – Host, NSPCC  Liza Ware – NSPCC Sport Senior Consultant Laura Randall – NSPCC Online Safety Strategy Team 🎧 Listen to our previous episodes: Part 1 - Online Safety for the Sport and Activity Sector - Social Media and Online PlatformsMake sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport.

  6. 11/27/2024

    Online Safety Part 1 - Social Media and Online Platforms

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) In this first podcast episode, Liza Ware, one of our NSPCC Sport Senior Consultants, talks about how we can keep children and young people safe on social media and online platforms with fellow colleagues from the NSPCC online safety team. With the increasing role of social media in daily life, it's important that clubs, organisations and activity providers understand what to look for in a social media app or platform as well as the policies that need to be in place to protect young people and children. This podcast was originally recorded in May 2020 but has been repurposed for use in November 2024.Liza and her guests discuss: what should sport and physical activity organisations look for in a social media app or online platform? the importance of social media policies  safer recruitment and restricted access to platforms Featuring: Helen Westerman – Host, NSPCC  Liza Ware – NSPCC Sport Senior Consultant Laura Randall – NSPCC Online Safety Strategy Team Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport.

  7. 10/04/2024 ·  Bonus

    Bonus - Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport - Advice for Parents

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) Catch up with Connor, a member of the NSPCC Young People's Board for Change (YPBC) as he talks with Michelle North, former Head of the CPSU during Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week.  They discuss what parents should look for when finding the right sports club or activity programme for their child, as well as inclusion, resilience and finding the right balance in a young person's life.

  8. 10/01/2024

    Building a Collective Culture of Safety in Sport and Physical Activity

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) This podcast was recorded for the NSPCC Sport's Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week, which is taking place 07-11 October 2024.  In this episode, Connor from the NSPCC Young Person's Board for Change interviews our safeguarding panel about how to build a collective culture of safety within sport, throwing out some challenging and thought-provoking questions such as:  what does sport mean to them, who has influenced their sporting journeys and who made them feel safe? what does a safe sporting environment look like? how do they balance competition and young people's wellbeing? who has inspired them to take care of themselves on and off the court? what are the key challenges in safeguarding and how can we address them? what improvements would they like to see in the world of youth sport? In this insightful discussion, the panel tackle a broad spectrum of safeguarding topics, from the importance of a supportive coaches and having fun to involving young people in the shaping of clubs, parents and carers and safeguarding volunteers. They also touch on mental health, The FA's Play Safe campaign, the case data research and the importance of strengthening unregulated and unaffiliated sport and physical activity.  💬Featuring: Connor – Host, NSPCC YPBC Rachel Tarr - Child Protection Manager from The Football Association (The FA) Michelle North - Head of the NSPCC Sport Maisie - NSPCC YPBC Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport

  9. 02/02/2024

    Body Image and Social Media in Sport

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) As part of #SaferInternetDay and the ever growing notoriety of having an online presence from such a young age, we look at the impact social media has on body image for young athletes. We're joined by British Swimming's National Talent and Events Welfare Officer Rebecca Wood to cover how social media can be a double edged sword for growing athletes, as well as how body image has brought about changes within the British Swimming safeguarding policies. During this episode we cover:  the positives of social media in building an athletes brand the affects of sharing images and obligation to sport the pressure of the 'ideaolised' body and the demand to look a certain way experiences of online trolling policy changes thanks to social media how communication and treating an athlete as an individual is paramount Don't miss out on the conversation that goes beyond the game, revealing how social media can shape an athlete both on and off the field and what clubs, organisations and teams can do to help navigate the digital sport universe. 💬Featuring:Mel Nienartowicz – Host, NSPCC SportCarole Billington-Wood – Senior Consultant, NSPCC SportRebecca Wood– National Talent and Events Welfare Officer, British Swimming📄 Transcript: You can access the full transcript for this episode here 📚 More resources: Online Safety Training Scenarios - A collection of videos showcasing different scenarios safeguarders may encounter and how to handle them Podcast - Weight-making sports and activities - part of our podcast series on body image, weight management and disordered eating in sport Online safety and social media in sport - guidance for online safety and social media in sport Responding to Online Abuse - NSPCC guidance Safeguarding Online Sporting Spaces - Loughborough University  💻Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport

  10. 09/06/2022

    Changes to Positions of Trust Legislation

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) The extension to the positions of trust legislation comes after the NSPCC’s ‘Close the Loophole’ campaign. In this podcast we analyse who is included in the extension to the law and what this means for your organisation. In this episode, we talk about:  what is the new leglislation and what does it mean for sport organisations? why did the law need to be extended? 'Close the Loophole' what changes should be implemented to safeguard children and young people in sport the importance of reviewing and updating sport organisation and club safeguarding policies  how to update your safeguarding policies  --Please note:This content may be sensitive to some individuals, it may bring up distressing memories, thoughts or feelings. If you need further support or know someone who might need support you can find links to organisations that can provide emotional support below. -- FeaturingBecky Groarke – Information Officer, Jude Toasland – Senior Consultant, Cate Meredith – Senior Consultant, NSPCC consultancy teamShirley McGinley – Senior Consultant, NSPCC consultancy teamFiona Becker – Senior Consultant, NSPCC consultancy team TranscriptYou can view the transcript of this podcast here and access links to further information on this topic. Helplines and support NSPCC Helpline  tel: 0808 800 5000 email: help@nspcc.org.uk – helping adults to protect children    Childline tel: 0800 1111 – for children and young people aged 18 and under  HAVOCA – Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse  NAPAC – The National Association for People Abused in Childhood One in Four – support in Ireland for adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse  Rape Crisis – support in England and Wales  Rape Crisis Help – support in Ireland  Stop It Now! Helpline tel: 0808 1000 900 – UK and Ireland  Survivors UK – support for men  The Samaritans tel: 116 123 - a safe place to talk any time you like Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport

  11. 10/21/2020

    Learning from Lived Experience of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Sport

    (Recorded under the name The CPSU.) Karen works to raise awareness, to encourage safer spaces for all athletes and is a leading voice in the international work against sexual abuse and harassment in sport. She is a ambassador of the Voices Project for Truth and Dignity and a member of the Sport England Advisory Panel.-- Please note: During this podcast we talk about childhood sexual abuse. This may be difficult to hear and, for some people, it may bring up distressing memories, thoughts or feelings.Whilst it may not be easy to listen to, this episode includes important information to help all of us keep children safe in sport.To look after yourself while you listen consider taking breaks, listening during a walk or before an activity you enjoy such as exercise or meeting a friend. --During this powerful and insightful podcast, Carole and Karen cover topics such as: creating a culture of safety within sport the importance of listening to young athletes the need for robust safeguarding policies  clear codes of conduct and safeguarding measures for sports clubs and organisations speaking out and how to report a safeguarding concern the impact of abuse  💬Featuring:Carole Billington-Wood – NSPCC Sport Senior ConsultantKaren Leach  – Voices Ambassador, member of the Sport England Advisory PanelIf you have been affected by anything mentioned in this podcast, there is support out there for you:  🤝Helplines and support: NSPCC Helpline  tel: 0808 800 5000 email: help@nspcc.org.uk – helping adults to protect children   Childline tel: 0800 1111 – for children and young people aged 18 and under  HAVOCA – Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse  NAPAC – The National Association for People Abused in Childhood One in Four – support in Ireland for adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse  Rape Crisis – support in England and Wales  Rape Crisis Help – support in Ireland  Stop It Now! Helpline tel: 0808 1000 900 – UK and Ireland  Survivors UK – support for men  The Samaritans tel: 116 123 - a safe place to talk any time you like Make sure you visit the website for the latest information and guidance about safeguarding in sport

  • 11 Episodes

About

Welcome to our podcast, where we share safeguarding best practice, lived experience and discuss all things sport and physical activity. Children’s sport should be exciting, fulfilling and fun. But most of all, it should be safe. We believe in building a caring, inclusive culture where children and young people can thrive and enjoy themselves by discovering all kinds of sports and physical activities – whatever their level or ability. We are part of the NSPCC, are funded by the UK sport councils and have been leading the way in safeguarding in sport for over 25 years.    Together, we can make sure that children and young people are safe and can thrive in sport. (Many of our podcasts were recorded under the name the Child Protection in Sport Unit. We became NSPCC Sport in June 2026.) #SafeInSport #NSPCCSport

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